Amaya
Amaya is a girl's name of Basque origin.
Meaning
The end, mother city, or night rain.
Origin and history
Amaya is a given name of Basque origin meaning 'the end' or 'mother city', derived from the place name Amaia. It is also found in Japanese, where it translates to 'night rain' depending on the kanji used. In the United States, it has experienced a significant rise in popularity since the late 1990s.
Popularity in the United States
43,525 babies in the United States have been named Amaya since 1880. It ranks #655 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #162.
States where it is most popular
- CA (15.3 %)
- TX (9.6 %)
- FL (7.5 %)
- NY (7.3 %)
- IL (3.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 0 |
| 1970-1980 | 40 |
| 1980-1990 | 104 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,106 |
| 2000-2010 | 15,258 |
| 2010-2019 | 16,273 |
| 2020-2029 | 10,744 |
Famous people named Amaya
- Amaya Valdemoro: Athlete, Basketball player
- Amaya Forch: Actress, Singer
Nicknames
Maya, Amy
Fun facts
- While most famously derived from the Basque name Amaia, it is also a distinct Japanese surname and feminine name.
- The name gained widespread popularity in Spain following the 1879 historical novel 'Amaya o los vascos en el siglo VIII' by Francisco Navarro Villoslada.
- Amaya first entered the top 1000 U.S. names for girls in the late 1990s and has maintained a steady presence in the top 200.